From the Sector

CRAFT ist ab sofort neuer Ausrüster der schwedischen Handball-Nationalmannschaft. Die zunächst auf vier Jahre angelegte Partnerschaft startete mit dem 1. Juli 2019 und umfasst sowohl die Herren-, Damen- und Jugend-Mannschaften.

Die schwedische Handball-Nationalmannschaft gehört sowohl bei den Herren als auch bei den Damen zur absoluten Weltelite. Dabei arbeiten beide Teams mit derselben Anzahl an Trainern und denselben finanziellen Budgets. Schweden ist damit wieder einmal Vorreiter in Sachen Gleichberechtigung.

Die Partnerschaft umfasst sämtliche Nationalmannschaften der Männer, Frauen sowie Jugend. Craft stattet die Spielerinnen und Spieler mit Freizeit-, Trainings- und Spielbekleidung sowie Funktions-Unterwäsche aus. Dazu gehört auch das langlebigste Match-Jersey, das Craft je produziert hat. Es wurde speziell entwickelt, um den harten Bedingungen des Handballs standzuhalten.
Die Zusammenarbeit beginnt am 1. Juli 2019 und dauert mindestens vier Jahre.

Das neue für Unterwegs
Wenn die Lilien am heutigen Mittwochabend (26.6.) ihr erstes Testspiel in der Vorbereitung auf die Saison 2019/20 bestreiten, werden sie zugleich erstmals in den neuen Auswärtstrikots auflaufen. Die in weiß und grau gehaltenen Jerseys von Ausrüster CRAFT wurden bereits mittags erstmals der Öffentlichkeit präsentiert.

Stilprägend sind dabei die kleinen, grauen Liliensymbole, die sich über den unteren Trikotbereich ziehen und dann in Richtung Brust bzw. oberem Rückenbereich langsam verblassen. Das in enger Zusammenarbeit mit dem SV Darmstadt 98 entstandene Outfit zeichnet sich durch graue Ärmel aus, die von blauen und weißen Streifen abgeschlossen werden. Neu sind auch drei weiße Knöpfe auf der Vorderseite, die in den Kragen münden. Dieser wiederum ist ebenfalls in grau gehalten und besticht auf der Trikotinnenseite durch ein historisches Wappen des SV 98, welches in den 70er- und 80er-Jahren verwendet wurde. Abgerundet wird das Jersey im Brustbereich von der Lilie, die - wie bereits im Vorjahr - als 3D-Gummipatch auf das Shirt gebracht wurde.

In Zusammenarbeit mit der SG Dynamo Dresden hat CRAFT ein Trikot entworfen, in dem jede Menge Dresden steckt – und sehr viel Sportgemeinschaft. Das neue Jersey kommt in edlem und modernem Dynamo-Gelb, mit Nadelstreifenoptik und schwarzen Armabschlüssen. Im Kragen sind die größten Erfolge der SGD verewigt, eine Dresden-Skyline zeigt die Verbundenheit zur Stadt.

„Im Entwicklungsprozess des neuen Dynamo-Trikots standen die individuellen Wünsche von Verein, Spielern und Fans an erster Stelle. Besonderes Augenmerk lag zudem auf einem modernen Schnitt, hochfunktionellen Materialien und einem eigens für Dynamo Dresden entworfenen Design. Wir freuen uns darauf, 2019/20 in diesem neuen Dynamo-Trikot zusammen viele tolle Spiele und Erfolge mit dem Verein zu feiern“, sagt Andre Bachmann, Geschäftsführer CRAFT / New Wave GmbH.

„Als Spezialist für Funktionsbekleidung und zuverlässiger Partner im Teamsport hat unser Ausrüster CRAFT gemeinsam mit uns ein Jersey kreiert, das durch hochwertiges Material und klares Design punktet. Wir freuen uns sehr über unser neues CRAFT Trikot, das bei unseren Spielern schon sehr gut angekommen ist“, erklärte Dynamos kaufmännischer Geschäftsführer Michael Born. Gründungsjahr 1953, „Love Dynamo Hate Racism“ als Inschrift im Nackenband und der Claim „Wir haben einen Traum“ als Prägedruck zeigen, wofür Dynamo Dresden steht. Die Jacquard-Knit-Technology in der Rückenpartie garantiert gutes Temperatur- und Feuchtigkeitsmanagement. Der ergonomische Schnitt und ein hoher Stretch-Anteil sorgen für optimale Bewegungsfreiheit.

Anita Tillmann on the new season, new topics and a new generation.

“We’re feeling a special vibe in Berlin at the moment. The new generation is cool, fresh, engaged. Despite the fact that we, in our 40s, 50s and up, wear the same sneakers and almost the same look as our children, it's a long time since we topped the cool list. We need the young crowd, these stars of tomorrow, their style, their ideas and their unconventional and open ways of thinking. Everyone should come to Berlin to meet them, listen to them, or at least watch them. If you only look to the past you won't create a good future.”

CRAFTING STORIES.
“Berlin feels reckless, flexible, sometimes wonderfully aimless, unconstrained and unpredictable, which gives my creativity a huge boost. I am fascinated by always meeting people from all over the world who have chosen to make Berlin their base so that they can be free and creative, because Berlin offers the space to do that – whether in a studio, or at WeWork or Berghain.”

CHANGING STORIES.
“Only 9 per cent of the 9.1 billion tonnes of waste plastic that accumulates around the world was recycled and 12 per cent was incinerated. We give talks daily on the theme of avoiding plastic and we are working with the City of Berlin on concepts for a plastic-free Fashion Week. Only together can we shake things up.”

TELLING STORIES.
“Emotionalisation begins at the trade show stand rather than in-store. If the sparks don't fly at the trade show it will be tricky to tell the brand story or implement the presentation of the brands across the sales areas. Firstly, the aim is to use key looks and storytelling to capture buyers’ attention and make statements. We are working together with the brands on showcasing differentiating factors and genuinely presenting something new. Secondly, we recommend bringing young sales staff along to Berlin as well, to internalise this dynamic as well as the brand stories; and to then make these stories come alive for end consumers across the sales areas.”

Hexcel has joined forces with a Lyon-based startup, LAVOISIER COMPOSITES. This company has developed CARBONIUM®, a new generation of material sourced entirely from carbon composite by-products generated by the French aerospace sector.

Hexcel supplies high-performance composite materials for the latest generation of aircraft such as the Airbus A350 XWB (53% composite structure). This has greatly contributed to the reduction of the aircraft's weight, thereby reducing its fuel consumption and carbon footprint. Composites are a significant first step toward tackling environmental and economic challenges, and eco-sourcing of the industry by-products also plays a key role.

CARBONIUM®, which was developed with a process based on three patents pending, reduces overall environmental impact by 40-50%, compared to equivalent products derived from virgin materials. Based on the "climate change" factor, the life cycle assessment carried out with Hexcel revealed that the up-cycling of by-products from the aerospace composites industry leads to a reduction in CO2 emissions of 13kg per kg of CARBONIUM® used.
In its first year of operation, LAVOISIER COMPOSITES has already enjoyed commercial success, including the launch of two top-of-the-range watch models by Swiss luxury watchmaker ULYSSE NARDIN using this new material.

From aircraft fuselages to watchmaking, the composites manufacturing cycle presents opportunities for reducing our impact on the environment.

• Hexcel’s Composite Innovations For Aerospace, Automotive, Energy And Marine Applications At JEC World 2019 Hall 5 - Stand J41

STAMFORD, Conn. – At this year’s JEC World taking place in Paris on March 12-14, Hexcel will promote a wide range of composite innovations for customer applications in aerospace, automotive, energy and marine markets.

Aerospace Innovations

Hexcel’s HiTape® and HiMax™ dry carbon reinforcements were developed to complement a new generation of HiFlow™ resin systems, producing high quality aerospace structures using the resin infusion process. HiTape® was developed for the automated lay-up of preforms and HiMax™ is a range of optimized non-crimp fabrics (NCF). Both products incorporate a toughening veil to enhance mechanical properties, meeting the structural requirements for aerospace parts.

Visitors to JEC will see an Integrated Wing Panel demonstrator and an I-beam, both made with HiTape® reinforcements, and an Opticoms rib made with HiMax™ NCF. The Opticoms rib and I Beam were both manufactured using C-RTM (Compression Resin Transfer Molding). They were injected with Hexcel’s RTM6 resin in a process taking less than 5 minutes. The total manufacturing cycle for both parts was just 4.5 hours.

Also among the Aerospace exhibits, Hexcel will display a composite petal for a satellite antenna, manufactured by Thales Alenia Space Italia. The petal is part of a set of 24 deployable structural elements that form the large area reflector assembly used on board Low Earth Orbit (LEO) observation satellites. Thales Alenia Space Italia selected Hexcel’s HexPly® M18 prepreg for this application, acknowledging the superior mechanical and outgassing properties provided.

Another Hexcel prepreg application on show is a “zero” frame, manufactured by Aerofonctions for the engine area of Daher’s TBM 910/930 single-engine turboprop aircraft. Hexcel’s HexPly® M56 prepreg was selected by Daher for the “zero” frame – a product developed for Out of Autoclave applications that provides the same high quality and performance as autoclave-cured prepregs, from a simple vacuum bag cure in an oven.

With 50 years of experience behind its comprehensive range of high-strength, high-strain PAN-based carbon fibers, Hexcel continues to innovate, and is introducing two new fibers to its portfolio. HexTow® HM50 combines high modulus and high tensile strength, making it ideal for commercial and defense aircraft and engines. HexTow® 85 was developed specifically to replace rayon-based carbon fiber for ablative applications.

HexTow® carbon fiber holds the most qualified carbon fiber positions on aerospace programs in the industry and is the best unsized fiber available on the market. It provides excellent bonding interfacial properties with thermoplastic matrices and is the best-performing fiber for 3D printing applications.

Additive manufacturing is another area of expertise for Hexcel, using PEKK ultra-high performance polymers and HexAM™ technology to manufacture carbon-reinforced 3D printed parts. This
innovative process provides a weight-saving solution for intricate parts in highly demanding aerospace, satellite and defense applications. HexPEKK™ structures offer significant weight, cost and time-to-market reductions, replacing traditional cast or machined metallic parts with a new technology.

Hexcel is well known for its range of weight-saving, stiffness-enhancing honeycombs and the company adds value by providing a range of engineered core solutions to customers from facilities in the USA, Belgium and the newly opened Casablanca plant in Morocco. Hexcel’s engineered core capabilities enable highly contoured parts with precision profiling to be produced to exacting customer specifications. An example of such a part will be on display at JEC. Made from Aluminum FlexCore®, the part is CNC machined on both sides, and formed and stabilized with both peel ply and flyaway layers of stabilization. Aircraft engines benefit from a number of Hexcel core technologies including HexShield™ honeycomb that provides high temperature resistance in aircraft engine nacelles. By inserting a thermally resistant material into honeycomb cells, Hexcel provides a core product with unique heat-shielding capabilities that allows for the potential re-use of material after a fire event.

Hexcel’s Acousti-Cap® broadband noise-reducing honeycomb significantly improves acoustic absorption in aircraft engine nacelles. The acoustic treatment may be positioned at a consistent depth and resistance within the core, or can be placed in a pattern of varying depths and/or resistances (Multi-Degrees of Freedom and 3 Degrees Of Freedom), offering an acoustic liner that is precisely tuned to the engine operating conditions. These technologies have been tested at NASA on a full engine test rig and meet all 16 design conditions without trade-offs.

HexBond™ – the new name in Adhesives

Hexcel’s range of high performance adhesives has expanded considerably following the company’s acquisition of Structil. The company has now decided to unite the range by marketing all of its adhesive products using HexBond™ branding. The comprehensive range of HexBond™ structural film adhesives, foaming adhesive films, paste adhesives, liquid shims, epoxy fillets and Chromium free liquid primers is suitable for a wide range of applications in combination with Hexcel’s prepreg and honeycomb products.

Automotive Innovations

Hexcel’s carbon prepreg patch technology provides an innovative way of locally stiffening and reinforcing metal parts, providing noise and vibration management functionality. HexPly® prepreg patches consist of unidirectional carbon fiber impregnated with a fast curing epoxy matrix that has self-adhesive properties, enabling it to bond to metal in a highly efficient one-step process. These key technology properties are demonstrated in an 18.5kg aluminum subframe (that is 50% lighter than steel equivalents), which was reinforced with 500 grams of HexPly® prepreg and tested by Saint Jean Industries. The part demonstrates a significant reduction in noise, vibration and harshness (NVH). Other benefits include lower production costs, energy savings, increased driver comfort, production flexibility and part count reduction. With this technology Hexcel is a finalist in the JEC Innovation Awards 2019 in the Automotive Applications category.

HexPly® prepreg patch technology was also applied to a hybrid side sill demonstrator developed with Volkswagen and Dresden University to address future crash test requirements, specifically for electric cars. Combining fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) with metal, the hybrid construction allows for optimum performance including weight savings, enhanced safety, increased energy absorption, battery protection in a crash situation and production flexibility.

Hexcel will also display a lightweight CFRP transmission crossmember produced from Hexcel’s high performance HexMC®-i 2000 molding compound. The transmission crossmember was developed in partnership with the Institute of Polymer Product Engineering (at Linz University), Engel and Alpex. As the part connects the chassis together and supports transmission it has to be stiff and strong, resisting fatigue and corrosion. Hexcel’s HexMC®-i 2000 was selected as the best-performing molding compound on the market, curing in as little as two minutes to produce lightweight, strong and stiff parts.
To produce the transmission crossmember HexMC®-i 2000 preforms are laid up in Alpex molds and compression-molded in a v-duo press that was tailored for the application by Engel. Ribs, aluminum inserts and other functions can be molded into the part using the single-stage process, reducing component-count. Any offcuts from the preforms can be interleaved between the plies of material to provide additional reinforcement in key areas - meaning that the process generates no waste.

Other Automotive promotions on Hexcel’s stand at JEC World include a composite leaf spring manufactured by ZF using HexPly® M901 prepreg. In contrast to steel leaf springs, composite versions offer many advantages including weight savings of up to 70%, high corrosion resistance, optimized system integration and superior performance. HexPly® M901 prepreg reduces the cure cycle to below 15 minutes and provides 15% higher mechanical performance, with enhanced fatigue properties. It also operates at high temperatures, providing a Tg of up to 200°C following a post cure.

Marine Innovations

Hexcel has a comprehensive range of products aimed at racing yacht and luxury boat builders that include America’s Cup, IMOCA class and DNV GL-approved prepregs, woven reinforcements and multiaxial fabrics for hull and deck structures, masts and appendages.

At JEC World Hexcel will display an IMOCA yacht mast manufactured by Lorima using HexPly® high modulus and high strength carbon fiber prepreg from Hexcel Vert-Le-Petit. Lorima is the exclusive official supplier of masts for IMOCA 60 class racing boats.

Hexcel’s HexTow® IM8 carbon fiber has been selected as the highest performing industrial carbon fiber on the market and will be used by spar and rigging manufacturer Future Fibres to manufacture their AEROrazr solid carbon rigging for all the teams in the 36th America’s Cup.

Hexcel’s HiMax™ DPA (Dot Pattern Adhesive) reinforcements are non-crimp fabrics supplied pre-tacked, allowing multiple fabrics to be laid-up more easily in preparation for resin infusion. Providing an optimal, consistent level of adhesion, they allow a faster and more consistent resin flow, as well as eliminating the use of spray adhesive for a healthier working environment and lower risk of contamination. Simply unrolled and applied to the mold or core layer before the introduction of resin, HiMax™ DPA fabrics are widely used in boat building, where lay-up times can be reduced by up to 50%.

Wind Energy Innovations

Hexcel has developed a range of HexPly® surface finishing prepregs and semi-pregs for wind turbine blades and marine applications. Providing a tough, durable and ready-to-paint surface without using in-mold coats, these products shorten the manufacturing cycle and reduce material costs. HexPly® XF2(P) prepreg is optimized for wind blades and has a ready-to-paint surface, straight from the mold, saving at least 2 hours of takt time.

Polyspeed® pultruded carbon laminates were developed for load-carrying elements in a blade structure and are manufactured with a polyurethane matrix that provides outstanding mechanical performance in terms of stiffness and durability. The blade manufacturing process is optimized, with increased throughput. The pultruded laminates are supplied in coils as continuous cross section profiles.
HiMax™ non-crimp fabrics using E-glass, high modulus glass and carbon fibers are also available in a wide range of unidirectional, biaxial and triaxial constructions. HiMax™ fabrics have applications throughout the turbine, from the stitched carbon fiber UDs used in the main structural elements, to glass fabrics and hybrids for blade shells and nacelles. There are also specialist applications such as lightweight fabrics for heated leading edge de-icing zones.

Hexcel is exhibiting at the Aero India show for the sixth time, continuing to support customers in the Indian subcontinent and throughout Asia. This year’s show takes place in Bangalore from February 20-24 (Stand AB2.5D, Hall AB) to promote a range of carbon fibers and composites that are benefiting Indian aerospace manufacturers for commercial aircraft, helicopters and space programs.

To coincide with the show, Hexcel is announcing the opening of its new sales office, Hexcel Composites India LLP. The office is located in Bangalore and will be fully operational in March 2019. Mr Vijay Sharma, Sales Manager, and Mr Ram Kumar, Technical Representative, will manage the sales activities and support key customers in the region.

Hexcel has supplied carbon and glass fiber fabrics, prepregs, honeycombs and adhesives to Indian aerospace companies for more than 28 years, including Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), National Aerospace Lab (NAL), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) and TATA Advanced Materials.

Hexcel’s high strength and intermediate modulus carbon fiber range has been augmented by the launch of HexTow® HM63, a high modulus carbon fiber that has the highest tensile strength of any existing HM fiber. HexTow® HM63 provides outstanding translation of fiber properties in a composite, including superior inter-laminar shear and compression shear strength. HexTow® HM63 is therefore ideal for any high stiffness and strength-critical applications including space, satellites, UAV, commercial aerospace and helicopters.

Ende Januar eröffnete die New Wave GmbH ihr neues Logistikzentrum in Geiselwind. Das Tochterunternehmen der schwedischen New Wave Group mit Sitz im bayerischen Oberaudorf schafft am neuen Standort reichlich Platz: Auf einer Lagerfläche von rund 11.000 m² mit rund 8.500 Paletten-Stellplätzen sowie insgesamt 33.000 Pickplätzen finden unter anderem Marken wie der schwedische Spezialist für Funktionsbekleidung, CRAFT, Platz. Ein 450 m² großer Showroom, in dem alle Marken der New Wave GmbH präsentiert werden, und ein 650 m² großes Outlet, das im Juni seine Pforten öffnet, machen den neuen Standort in Geiselwind zur Anlaufstelle für Fachhändler und Endkunden gleichermaßen.

Neben CRAFT bietet die New Wave GmbH ein breites Portfolio an Textilien für verschiedene Bereiche. Egal ob textile Basics, Sport-, Business-, Arbeits- oder Golf- und Lifestyle-Bekleidung – für all diese Bereiche liefert das Unternehmen textile Lösungen, die auf Wunsch individuell via Druck oder Stick veredelt werden können. Um der steigenden Nachfrage und dem neuen, erfolgreichen Engagement von CRAFT im Bereich Teamsport gerecht zu werden, fiel 2017 die Entscheidung auf Geiselwind als Standort für ein neues Logistikzentrum.

Nach dem Baustart im März 2018 werden nicht einmal ein Jahr später die ersten Bestellungen vom neuen Standort in Unterfranken verschickt. Ebenso ist der 450 m² große Showroom komplett eingerichtet und präsentiert die New Wave-Welt.

Andre Bachmann, Geschäftsführer der New Wave GmbH, freut sich: „Es ist unglaublich, in welch kurzer Zeit das alles hier entstanden ist. Gefühlt habe ich immer noch den Sand vom Spatenstich in den Schuhen. Dabei stehe ich nicht mal ein Jahr später hier in unserem neuen Wohnzimmer – unserem komplett eingerichteten New Wave Showroom. Zum ersten Mal überhaupt wird unser komplettes Portfolio an einem Ort präsentiert. So schnell funktioniert das wirklich nur wenn alle Zahnräder ineinandergreifen – von unserem Mutterkonzern in Schweden, über die Behörden vor Ort, allen am Bau beteiligten Unternehmen und nicht zuletzt bis hin zu sämtlichen Mitarbeitern der New Wave GmbH. Wir waren schon in der Vergangenheit sehr gut aufgestellt, was die Lieferfähigkeit angeht. Mit dem neuen Lager können wir uns noch weiter verbessern.“

• conceptual and commercial garments presented at exhibition in London

After two years of research Mistra Future Fashion is honoured to present, in collaboration with Centre for Circular Design at University of the Arts London and Filippa K, an exhibition pushing the limits of ‘fast’ and ‘slow’ fashion. Started in 2017, the industry-embedded project Circular Design Speeds takes a unique systemic approach, showcasing what could be accomplished using existing value chains as well as what the future of sustainable fashion holds. Ground-breaking textile research from University of the Arts London is questioning normative use and design of garments in creating prototypes to be worn across a spectrum of 24 hours to 50 years. By implementing research into existing value chains, Filippa K have produced a coat that is 100% recycled and recyclable, as well as a concept dress that is 100% bio-based and biodegradable. The research results and garments will be presented at the launch event at the University of the Arts London, on November 23rd and open to public on the 24th and 25th of November.

On Friday November 23rd the exhibition Disrupting Patterns: Designing for Circular Speeds opens up at University of the Arts London. The exhibition is the results of a two-year research project called Circular Design Speeds aiming at pushing the limits of ‘fast’ and ‘slow’ fashion by testing new concepts for sustainable design in an industry setting. On display are exploratory prototypes, as well as commercial garments produced by industry partner Filippa K using existing value chains. In addition, research results on innovative materials, consumer acceptance, composting studies and Life Cycle Assessments are presented. The aim of this project is to implement research results in a real fashion industry context, focusing on speed of use and maximising fabric value retention in products.

The Service Shirt developed by Professor Rebecca Earley is designed to last for over 50 years. The concept garment explores the multiple complexities, challenges and opportunities associated with design for circular business models in extended use contexts. The Service Shirt was designed as a ‘deliberate extreme’ to have a total lifecycle of 50 years. This lifecycle includes in-house and external remanufacturing processes, as well as various use cycles – often moving between single ownership and rental and sharing contexts. It becomes the lining for a jacket and then crafted in to fashion accessories, before finally being chemically regenerated in the year 2068.

On the opposite side of the spectrum the Fast-Forward concept, developed by Prof Kay Politowicz and Dr Kate Goldsworthy, explores alternative modes of production and use for a sustainable ‘fast-fashion’ application. Advantages with regards to climate impact are enabled through lighter material choices, nonwoven fabric production, no launder, clear routes to recovery and redistributed manufacturing systems. A sliding scale of ‘speed’ from ultra-fast forward through to a more widely accepted length of use, with adaptations to production processes and end of life, is presented. The prototypes are made from a new bio-based nonwoven material co-developed with Dr Hjalmar Granberg at RISE Research Institute of Sweden & University of the Arts London. The composition of the paper is a mix of cellulose pulp and bio-based PLA fibre, making the garment 100% biodegradable or recyclable in existing paper recycling systems.

Working closely with industry partner Filippa K made commercial testing possible. By implementing research into existing value chains, Filippa K was able to produce a coat that is 100% recycled and recyclable, as well as a concept dress that is 100% bio-based and biodegradable. The garments are a part of Filippa K’s Front Runner series and will be available in selected stores on November 26th. With a focus on products’ length of use and maximizing fabric value retention, Filippa K are dedicated to becoming fully circular by 2030.

“Being part of the fashion industry comes with many challenges, especially when considering the fact that we are the second most polluting industry after oil. Our industry needs to change and we believe adapting to circular models, like nature’s ecosystem, is one important solution. We want to be able to offer beautiful clothing and to make business within the planetary boundaries.”
- Elin Larsson, Sustainability Director, Filippa K

To validate the design research presented, a Life Cycle Assessment was performed on the prototypes. Mistra Future Fashion affiliated Dr. Greg Peters, Chalmers University of Technology, together with additional LCA Researchers at RISE, conclude that the production of fibres and fabrics are the main processes impacting the environment during the garment life cycles. Therefore, to extend the lifetime of existing garments and design for re-use, as done in the Service Shirt, is indeed the superior alternative compared to a reference garment.

“Compared with garments of the same mass, the extended life garments represent a large improvement in environmental performance over the reference garments, outperforming the reference garments in all effect categories. This superiority is primarily a consequence of avoiding garment production via reprinting and reassembly of the initial garment to extend its useful life.”
- Dr Greg Peters, LCA Researcher at Chalmers University of Technology

Another way to circumvent the impacts of fast fashion is to develop materials with considerably lower impacts during production, and which also avoid the barriers to recycling faced by conventional garments. Instead of hinder consumers from buying new, the act of acquiring a new garment could in fact be sustainable. The paper-based short life garments considered in this assessment show considerable impact savings when compare to the benchmark garment. Dr. Peters says,

“The paper-based garments benefit from the lower impacts of the material (fibre production, spinning and knitting) compared with conventional cotton, from their relatively light weight and also on account of the lower impacts in garment production and use.”

Neuer Partner an der Radsport-Spitze

Ab der Saison 2019 gehen die Profis des UCI-Radrennstalls Sunweb in CRAFT an den Start. Der schwedische Funktionsbekleidungs-Spezialist arbeitet schon über Jahre hinweg erfolgreich mit unterschiedlichen Radrenn-Mannschaften zusammen. Nun werden die Schweden offizieller und langfristiger Ausrüstungspartner des deutschen UCI-World-Tour-Teams mit Sitz in den Niederlanden.

Funktionsunterwäsche, Rennbekleidung und Freizeitbekleidung: Ab dem 01. Januar 2019 kleidet CRAFT sowohl Herren-, als auch Damen- und Nachwuchsteam von Sunweb von Kopf bis Fuß ein und stimmt dabei alles individuell auf die Athleten ab.

CRAFT-Geschäftsführer Andre Bachmann freut sich auf die zukünftige Zusammenarbeit: „Der Radrennsport ist tief in den Genen von CRAFT verankert. Daher freuen wir uns ganz besonders, ein so spannendes und dynamisches UCI-Team wie Sunweb mit unserer Bekleidung zu unterstützen. Mit Fahrern wie Tom Dumoulin, der in diesem Jahr Zweiter bei der Tour de France wurde, dem Sprinter und zweimaligen Etappensieger der letztjährigen Frankreichrundfahrt, Michael Matthews, oder den deutschen Fahrern  Nikias Arndt und Nachwuchstalent Lennard Kämna zeigt das Team großes Potenzial, um auch in Zukunft ganz oben angreifen zu können. Wir sind gespannt auf die Zusammenarbeit und fiebern der neuen Saison schon jetzt entgegen!"

Bei der Entwicklung neuer, technischer Produkte vertraut CRAFT zudem auf die langjährige Erfahrung der Sunweb-Profis und bindet sie daher eng in den Prozess mit ein. Das Zusammenspiel Ihrer praktischen Expertise mit dem technischen Knowhow der Marke spiegelt sich in den neuen Bike-Kollektionen der Schweden wider